Floyd l



Feb. 3, 1931. F SCOTT 1,790,769

show OPERATING VALVE Filed July 1l, 1927 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOYD L. SCOTT, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HUGHES TOOL COMPNY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS SLOW-OPERATING VALVE Application filed .Tuly 11,

My invention relates to valves employed in core drilling to close the upper end of the core barrel when the sample is being taken.

It is an object of the invention to provide a valve for closing the upper end of a core barrel which will remain open long enoughto allow the core barrel and the well bottom to be flushed clean.

It is desired tha-t the valve remain open while the drill is inserted into the well bore, and that it be closed after the Well has been cleaned ready to begin drillin operation.

Referring to the drawings or an understanding of my structure, Fig.' 1 is a central vertical section, taken on the plane 1-1 of Fig. 3, through a core. drill and barrel employing my invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken view in vertical section showing the valve in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a. similar transverse section on the plane 4 4 of Fig. 1. The core drill 1 and the drill collar 2 are intended to represent any common type of core drill. The drill head has fluid passages 3 for flushing fluid, and has a central core catching device 4 at the lower opening into the interior of the drill.

The core barrel 5 is'spaced within the drill collar and is secured at 6 within the bit head to project upwardly therein the desired distance to receive and hold the core.

The core barrel is connected by a valve coupling 7 to a guide barrel 8. Said coupling has externally threaded ends to connect with the barrels. Its interior surface is tapered upwardly to provide a ring at its up er end to form a.4 seat 9 for a valve mem er 10'. The lower end of the coupling has a spider with a central hub or ring 11 to support a rod 12 which projects upwardly, axially of the guide barrel, and has, at its upper end,

a piston head 13, adapted to fit loosely within a cylindrical chamber 14 in the valve 10.

Said valve 10 comprises a solid body of heavy weight with radial ribs 15 on its outer face to bear against the-inner face of the guide barrel and space the valve body slightly from the guide barrel. The interior 1927. Serial No. 204,971.

chamber 14 is enlarged at 16, to form a chamber of larger diameter than said piston 13. The upper end of the passage 14 is closed'by a screw plug 17.

The packing of the valve is forme-d through a ring 18 of compressible composition to engage the seat 9.

The upper end of the core barrel is closed by a cap 19 and openings 20 are formed in the barrel slightly above the valve seat to allow entrance of flushing fluid to the core barrel. 1

In the operation of the device the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1. The passage or chamber 14 is filled with grease or similar viscous fluid which flows but slowly. The weight of the valve tends to carry it downwardly toward its seat, but this movement is resisted by the slow flowing grease which works past the piston head under the -pressure of the weight. When the tool has Vreached the bottom of the well ready for drilling, water is flushed through the tool to wash out any mud or rock within the barrel. The flow of water through the openings 20 below the .valve will not affect the movement of the valve, the water ,pressure being thus a balanced pressure, and the valve will be moved only by gravity, tending to carry the heavy valve to its seat. I/Vhen the valve has been closed, it will be indicated to the driller from the operation of the pumps and the drilling may then proceed without the washing of the core thereafter.

The time it will take the valve to close may be regulated by test, so that the operator may arrange for it to close at the desired time. The valve will move downwardly until the piston head 10 enters the chamber 16 where resistance to the dropping of the valve will be relieved so that the valve will close quickly.

What I claim as new is:

K 1. In a core drill having a core barrel, the combination of a guide barrel, a coupling connecting said barrels, a valve seat on said coupling, a valve in said guide barrel, gravity operated means to move said valve to its seat, and means to retard said movement.

2. In a core drill, a core barrel, a guide barrel, a coupling connecting said barrels, a

valve seat at the upper end of said coupling, a weighted valve in said barrel, spacing ribs on said valve bearing against said guide barrel, there rbeing a passage for Huid through 5 the lower end of said guide barrel past said seat, said valve being moved by gravity to closed position on said seat, and means to retard said movement.

3. In a core drill, a core barrel, a guide barrel, a coupling Connecting said barrels, a valve seat at the upper end of said coupling, a Weighted valve in said barrel, spacing ribs on said valve bearing against said guide barrel, there being a passage for fluid through the lower end of said guide barrel past said seat, said valve being moved by gravity to closed position on said seat, and means supported on said coupling engaging`- said valve to retard said movement. 4. A core barrel, a guide barrel connected at the upper end of said core barrel, a weighted valve in said guide barrel, a valve seat at the upper end of said oore barrel, said guide barrel being formed to eliminate the downward flow of flushing fluid past said valve, and means to retard the'olosing of said Valve to allow it to seat only after a predetermined interval of time.

5. A core barrel, a guide barrel connected at the upper end of said core barrel, a weighted Valve in said guide barrel, means on said valve contacting with said barrel to guide said valve, a valve seat at the upper end of said core barrel, ythe upper end of said guide barrel being closed, the water pressure being balanced on said valve and means to retard the closing of said valve.

6. A core barrel, a valve seat at the upper end thereof, a weighted valve above said seat, means contacting on all sides ofv said valve to guide said valve into said seat, and means to retard the movement o f said valve under gravity to its seat.

7 A core barrel, a valve seat at the upper 45 end thereof, a Valve above said seat, means to balance the fluid pressure on said valve, said valve beingmoved toward said seat by gravity and means to retard said movement.

8. A core barrel, a valve seat at the upper end thereof, a valve above said seat, means contacting with the sides of said valve to guide said valve to said seat, gravity operated means to force said valve to its seat, and means extending axially within said valve to retard iis closing movement.

9. A core barrel, a valve seat thereon, a comparatively heavy valve above said seat, adapted to move downwardly by Vgravity alone, means engaging the sides of said valve to guide it to its seat, a central fluid chamber l in said valve, and means to retard the escape of fluid therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiix my signature, this the 27th day of J une, A. D.

1927. FLOYD. L. SCOTT 

